| borehole |
Borehole |
A narrow shaft bored into the ground, either vertically or horizontally. A borehole includes the hole cavity and walls surrounding that cavity. |
| crossSection |
Cross section |
The intersection of a body in three-dimensional space with a plane. Represented as a polygon. |
| CTD |
CTD |
A CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth) cast is a water column depth profile collected over a specific and relatively short date-time range, that can be considered as a parent specimen. |
| depthInterval |
Depth interval |
A discrete segment along a longer vertical path, such as a borehole, soil profile or other depth profile, in which an observation or specimen is collected over the distance between the upper and lower depth limits of the interval. A Depth Interval is a sub-type of Interval. |
| ecologicalLandClassification |
Ecological land classification |
Ecological land classification is a cartographical delineation of distinct ecological areas, identified by their geology, topography, soils, vegetation, climate conditions, living species, habitats, water resources, as well as anthropic factors. These factors control and influence biotic composition and ecological processes. |
| excavation |
Excavation |
An artificially constructed cavity in the earth that is deeper than the soil, larger than a well bore, and substantially open to the atmosphere. The diameter of an excavation is typically similar or larger than the depth. Excavations include building-foundation diggings, roadway cuts, and surface mines. |
| fieldArea |
Field area |
A location at which field experiments or observations of ambient conditions are conducted. A field area may contain many sites and has a geographical footprint that can be represented by a polygon. |
| flightline |
Flightline |
A path along which an aircraft travels while measuring a phenomena of study. |
| interval |
Interval |
A discrete segment along a longer path in which an observation or specimen is collected over the distance between the upper and lower bounds of the interval. A Depth Interval is a sub-type of Interval. |
| observationWell |
Observation well |
A hole or shaft constructed in the earth intended to be used to locate, sample, or develop groundwater, oil, gas, or some other subsurface material. The diameter of a well is typically much smaller than the depth. Wells are also used to artificially recharge groundwater or to pressurize oil and gas production zones. Specific kinds of wells should be specified in the SamplingFeature description. For example, underground waste-disposal wells should be classified as waste injection wells. |
| profile |
Profile |
A one-dimensional grid at fixed (x, y, t) coordinates within a four-dimensional (x, y, z, t) coordinate reference system. The grid axis is aligned with the coordinate reference system z-axis. Typically used to characterize or measure phenomena as a function of depth. |
| quadrat |
Quadrat |
A small plot used to isolate a standard unit of area for study of the distribution of an item over a large area. |
| scene |
Scene |
A two-dimensional visual extent within a physical environment. |
| shipsTrack |
Ships track |
A path along which a ship or vessel travels while measuring a phenomena of study. Represented as a line connecting the ship's consecutive positions on the surface of the earth. |
| site |
Site |
A facility or location at which observations have been collected. A site may have instruments or equipment installed and may contain multiple other sampling features (e.g., a stream gage, weather station, observation well, etc.). Additionally, many specimen sampling features may be collected at a site. Sites are also often referred to as stations. A site is represented as a point, but it may have a geographical footprint that is not a point. The site coordinates serve as a reference for the site and offsets may be specified from this reference location. |
| soilPitSection |
Soil pit section |
Two-dimensional vertical face of a soil pit that is described and sampled. |
| specimen |
Specimen |
A physical sample (object or entity) obtained for observations, typically performed ex situ, often in a laboratory. |
| streamGage |
Stream gage |
A location used to monitor and test terrestrial bodies of water. Hydrometric measurements of water level, surface elevation ("stage") and/or volumetric discharge (flow) are generally taken, and observations of biota and water quality may also be made. |
| trajectory |
Trajectory |
The path that a moving object follows through space as a function of time. A trajectory can be described by the geometry of the path or as the position of the object over time. |
| transect |
Transect |
A path along which ocurrences of a phenomena of study are counted or measured. |
| traverse |
Traverse |
A field control network consisting of survey stations placed along a line or path of travel. |
| waterQualityStation |
Water quality station |
A location used to monitor and test the quality of terrestrial bodies of water. Water quality stations may be locations at which physical water samples are collected for ex situ analysis. Water qulaity stations may also have instruments and equipment for continuous, in situ measurement of water quality variables. |
| weatherStation |
Weather station |
A facility, either on land or sea, with instruments and equipment for measuring atmospheric conditions to provide information for weather forecasts and to study weather and climate. |